Create Systems for Pen and Paper RPG Sessions

[Alphaelectric]

Hi,

I've had this idea for quite some time now and wanted to ask if anybody out here (in here?!?) has had experience in the area. Friends and I are having this pen and paper RPG session set on the Battletech universe background. Since this isn't always about mechs stomping around but a number of great things to discover throughout known space, I wanted to give the group a better understanding of the planetary system they are in. Mass Effect provides great inspiration and I just bought a copy of universe sandbox to try and start out creating system information for the players.

I assume, I'm not the first one on that road?

Some insights or best practices would be highly appreciated.

Btw. there have been some great advances made by the Inner Sphere Cartography Society Archive. Combined with the IS Atlas, you get a pretty good understanding of where you are. Universe Sandbox just seems to put the meat on the bone.